Compare towns
Harrisville vs Bethlehem vs Nelson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Harrisville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.4%).
Bethlehem has the most renters (24.7% rent).
Nelson has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Harrisville | Bethlehem | Nelson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 885 |
2,537Highest |
648Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.7% NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 58.9±5.5Highest 36% above NH |
50.6±8.5 17% above NH |
42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average |
| Harrisville and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±6.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.7%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 35.8%±10.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
28.2%±5.5 NH: 20.1% |
24.8%±2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Harrisville and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.8% NH: 40.6% |
45.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
61.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.7%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Harrisville and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,036±$13kHighest 4% above NH |
$85,029±$18kLowest 14% below NH |
$99,792±$23k about the NH average |
| Harrisville and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $430,500±$48kHighest 7% above NH |
$288,300±$22kLowest 28% below NH |
$340,900±$49k 15% below NH |
| Harrisville and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,611±$367Highest 8% above NH |
$1,174±$81Lowest 21% below NH |
$1,203±$243 19% below NH |
| Harrisville and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,329Lowest 20% below NH |
$5,418 19% below NH |
$5,575Highest 16% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35%±90.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.3%±18.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Bethlehem and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.6% NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.2% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1965Lowest 14 yrs older than NH |
1973 6 yrs older than NH |
1975Highest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the NH average |
20 minLowest 24% below NH |
24 min 9% below NH |
| Work from home | 13.4%±5.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
31.2%±12.9 NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Nelson and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #34 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Harrisville School District | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District | Nelson School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Profile Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.